Leather dyeing machine



Das. 2G, H938. M. F. FLYNN LEATHER DYEING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 2, 19.37

Invenor:

Dec. 20, 193s.

M. F. FLYNN LEATHER DYENG MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheetl 2 Filed oct. 2, 1957 511,@ @2% @Ummm .MichezEF Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 claims.

This invention relates to leather dyeing machines and consists primarily of a continuous convex arcuate bed plate supporting a movable endless bolster and having at opposite edges thereof troughs to receive the surplus dye discharged onto the leather carried by said bolster from one or more tanks disposed above the center of said bolster.

In the operation of dyeing leather, as heretofore customarily practiced, the operator first places the skin upon the smooth surface of a table or other suitable supporting surface, and spreads the same evenly thereupon, carefully smoothing down all wrinkles and other irregularities. Thereafter, by means of a brush, he applies successive coats of dye to the skin, and between successive applications works the dye into the skin by manual operation with a suitable implement. Thereafter, and while the skin is still upon the table, it is thoroughly washed to remove any excess dye, this involving further manipulation, after which the completed skin is removed from the table and the operations repeated on another skin. This mode of dyeing is a slow and laborious one, and

25 the results accomplished are very ununiform, the output varying greatly in quality in accordance with the skill and personal characteristics of the individual operators.

Attempts have heretofore been made to provide 30 automatic machinery for the dyeing of skins, but, so far as I am aware, none of these have been practically successful, it having been found in practice that there is no substitute for the manvual operations above referred to, and the product -5 of such automatic machines being greatly inferior to that of the old hand method. The present invention has for its object to prov-ide an apparatus whereby the operation of dyeing skins by the hand method can be efficiently and expeditiously carried out, to the end that the output per man can be increased and its quality improved and rendered more uniform and generally satisfactory than has heretofore been possible by the usual hand method and greatly superior to that pro- 45 duced by the use of any automatic machinery of which I am aware.

One object of this invention is to provide means whereby the dye deposited on the leather will llow downwardly over each side of the leather and be 50 brushed in by the operators. The surplus dye not absorbed by the leather will flow over the bolster to the edges to be collected in a receptacle to be used again.

Another object of the invention is to provide at dilerent points in the travel l of the bolster,

tanks containing the same color of dye or dyes of different colors or natures.

A further object is to provide a tank to discharge water on the leather after the dyes have been Worked into the leathers whereby the sur- 5 plus dye may be washed 01T of the leathers preparatory to the slicking operation. These objects and other desired objects are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings. l0

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, one preferred form thereof is illustrated in the drawings, this form having been found to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentali- 15 ties of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described except as required by the 20 scope of the appended claims. Of the drawings Figure l represents a side elevation of the forward end of a leather dyeing machine embodying the principles of the present invention.

4Figure 2 represents a side elevation of the rear end of the same.

Figure 3 represents a transverse section of the same, the cutting plane being on line 3, 3 on Fig. 4.

Figure 4 represents a plan of the forward end of the machine.

.Figure 5 represents a vertical sectional detail drawn to an enlarged scale, and

Figure 6 represents an elevation of the tank for 35 spraying water on the leather when dyed.

Similar characters indicate like parts throughout the several gures of the drawings.

In the drawings, I@ is a framework having near the bottom thereof members II extending transversely thereof, these members I I having portions thereof extending beyond the framework with boards I2 secured thereto to form a platform onl which the operators stand.

Extending the entire length of the framework I0 is a continuous convex arcuate steel table I3 having at the opposite edges thereof troughs I4.

Below the underface of the table I3 are transverse supporting members I5 and superimposed upon the convex arcuate table I3 is an endless 50 bolster I6 of rubber.

, This bolster IB at one end is mounted upon a revoluble drum I'I secured to and rotatable with the driving shaft I8, said driving shaft being driven in any well knownmanner.

At the opposite end of the framework Ill is another drum I9 .around which the bolster passes. This drum I9 is mounted on a shaft 20 revoluble in bearings 2i adjustable endwise of the framework IIB by means of the threaded members 22 having adjusting nuts 23 mounted thereon.

In the troughs I4 and extending the length of the frame IB are U-shaped members 24 and secured to these U-shaped members 24 at different distances apart are cross members 25, each having superimposed thereon a tank 216, 26a, and 2Gb, and each having a cock 21, 21a, and 2lb.

The Lipper flange of each Ll-shaped member 24 is provided with a plurality of threaded holes 28 to receive the bolts 29 extending through the cross members 25.

By removing the bolts 29 a cross member 25 may be moved lengthwise of the IIJ-shaped members 24 into a new position and secured thereto by again inserting the bolts 29 through the cross member 25 and into another set of holes 28.

The tanks 26, 26a and 26h are adapted to be llcd with aniline dyes either of the same color or different colors according to the Work to be done.

When the conveyor is in operation and the bolster I6 travels in the direction of the arrow a on Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, a skin or leather is placed upon said bolster and spread over the surface thereof.

In the movement of the bolster this skin or leather will pass beneath the cock 2'I and an amount of dye will be continuously delivered therefrom to the upper surface of the leather.

Between the tanks .'26 and 26a operators standing on the platform I2 will brush the dye into the leather.

As the leather moves beneath the tank 26a a further supply of dye may be deposited on the leather from the cock 21a, and likewise as the skin or leather continues to travel in the direction of the arrow a a further supply of dye may be deposited thereon from the cock 2lb and be brushed manually into the leather after each dye deposit.

'Ihe delivery from these cocks 21, 21a and 2lb, may be regulated by the valve members 3B which may each be adjusted to permit a continuous flow of a different amount of dye to conform to different sizes of skins.

For instance, a full supply of the dye may be delivered from the cock 21 .and a lesser amount from the cock 21a and also from the cock 2lb, all of these dyes being of the same color.

In some cases it is desired to have one color of dye in the tank 26, a dye of a different color in tank 26a, and a dye of another color in the tank 26h, these dyes of different colors being worked manually into the leather as it passes between the various tanks and combined to secure a desired nish on the leather or any desired shade of color.

Then the leather or skin is passed beneath the tank 26e which is filled with water and has a discharge pipe 3i extending therefrom provided with a transversely disposed perforated pipe 32.

When the valve 33 of the pipe 3| is opened the water will pass through the apertures in the pipe 32 and spray the entire top of the skin or leather passing thereunder.

As the skin or hide is moved with the bolster I6 towards the rear end of the frame I0, the operators standing on the platform I2 will perform the slicking operation and give a finish to the leather being operated upon.

It will be noted that the cocks 21, 21a, and 2lb, are all disposed over the highest part of the bolster I6 and when the operators are working the dyes into the leather the surplus material will flow downwardly in opposite directions from the center of the bolster into the troughs I 4.

Extending downwardly from the side walls of these troughs |41v are a plurality of pipes 34 through which the Asurplus material may pass downwardly into a receptacle 35l beneath the frame I0.

The trough I4 has a partition 36 therein as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The surplus material collected in the receptacle 35 may be used over and over again.

At the rear end of the framework I0 is another receptacle 31 with pipes 38 leading thereto from the gutters |41: to which the mixture of dye and water flows from the bolster I6.

This mixture of dye and water passes through the pipes 38 into the receptacle 3l and being useless may be thrown away.

The posts 39 of the framework I0 have rollers 40 mounted thereon, these rollers supporting the lower portion 4I of the bolster I6 as it passes from the roller I1 at the rear of the framework to the roller I9 at the front of the framework I0.

As a matter of convenience in making the drawings only three dye containing tanks 26, 26a and 26h are shown, but it must be understood that a greater number of these tanks may be used all in alinement over the center of the bolster and all separated from each other to form unimpeded stations at' which the operator on opposite sides of the machine may manually rub the dye into the leather on the bolster.

By this means dyes having a greater variety of colors may be contained in the various tanks and the requisite amount of dye from each tank regulated by the valve 30 and the cocks 21, 21a and 2lb.

In practice the framework III is of such a length that the platform I2 will support ten or more operators to operate with suitable tools upon the leather or skin as supported on the bolster I6, said leather or skin passing beneath the Vari.- ous dye-containing tanks.

Opposite this space between the tanks 26 and 25a there are usually two operators who with suitable tools are rubbing into the skin or leather the dye delivered to said skin or leather from the tank 26.

The dye is a thin liquid which flows readily and as it is deposited upon the skin or leather it will flow downwardly over the upwardly and transversely curved upper surface of the bolster until all of the surplus dye not forced into the skin or leather will readily flow into the troughs I4 from which it will pass into the receptacle 35 to be again used, if necessary.

Opposite each space between the tanks 26a and 2Gb and the space at the rear of the tank 2Gb, one operator stands upon the platform I2 and more carefully forces the dye with suitable tools into the skin or leather.

After the dye has permeated the leather or skin, it is then desirable to wash all surplus dye from the said leather or skin and this is done by spraying water over the surface of the leather from the water-containing tank 26o or from other means.

Between the water-containing tank 26C and the roller I'I ample unimpeded space is left whereby operators standing on the platform I2 mayl give a desired finish to the skin or leather by means Ato complete the leather ready for use in the manufacture of any desired article.

It is obvious that by having several of these dye-containing tanks in alinement over the center of the bolster, each tank may contain a dye of a 'different color or different nature so that when the skin or leather reaches the water-containing tank 26o, the various colors or natures of dyes will coact to give to the leather or skin any such color, shade or effect as it may be desired to use for any particular purpose.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the apparatus provides, between the several supply tanks 26, 26a etc., unimpeded stations at which several operators can, without interference, perform the necessary operations upon the leather after each application of dye thereto, and that the lengths and locations of these stations can be varied in accordance with the particular requirements by a suitable longitudinal adjustment of the several tanks.

An operator stationed in advance of the tank 26 will properly position successive skins upon the belt l 5, operators at the intermediate stations will work into the leather the dye discharged thereupon from the several tanks, and a final operator will work off the wash water from the tank 26e together with any excess dye and will remove the successive skins from the apparatus.

The cocks 21, 21a etc., are arranged to discharge the dye continuously upon the belt and the skins thereon and may discharge the same at a rate slightly in excess of the requirements, thereby assuring an adequate supply, but without wastage, since any excess is received by the drainage troughs at the sides of thebelt and conserved for future use.

It is found in practice that by the use of theapparatus the output per man can be substantially increased, and the resulting product being of uniformly good quality and greatly superior to any which it has been possible to produce by any other form of automatic or semi-automatic apparatus of which I am aware.

It is believed that the operation and many advantages of the invention will be understood without further description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a leather dyeing machine, a framework, a convex continuous arcuate metal bed plate fixedly secured to said framework and extending lengthwise thereof; a rotatable drum at each end of said bed plate; an endless bolster, said bolster resting on said bed plate and being movable endwise thereof on said drums adapted to support a leather on the upper face thereof; and means for depositing a dye only on the center of said leather.

2. In a leather` dyeing machine as set forth in claim 1, in which the dye is continuously delivered plurality of alined tanks supported on said framework above the center of said bolster and separated from each other suiciently to permit manual operationl on the leather after each delivery of dye from either tank.

4. In a leather dyeing machine as set forth in claim 1, in which the dye is continuously delivered directly onto the center of said leather from a tank provided with a valved cock, said tank being supported on. said framework with said cock permanently disposed immediately above the center of said bolster.

5. In a leather dyeing machine as set forth in claim 1, in which troughs are disposed at the opposite edges of said bed plate and below the upper face thereof, said troughs and bed plate having no movement relatively to each other.

6. In a leather dyeing machine as set forth in claim 1, in which deep troughs integral with said bed plate are disposed at the opposite edges of said bed plate and below the upper face thereof. said troughs having outlet pipes leading from the sides thereof, and a receptacle at the lower ends of said pipes to receive the surplus dye flowing from said troughs.

7. In a leather dyeing machine, a framework; a continuous convex arcuate metal bed plate xedly secured to said framework and extending lengthwise thereof; a rotatable drum at each end of said bed plate; an endless bolster on said drums adapted to support a leather on the upper face thereof, said bolster resting on said bed plate and slidable endwise thereof; vmeans for continuously depositing a dye only on the center of said leather; and a tank above said bolster adapted to discharge water on the dyed leather and Wash 01T the surplus dye previously deposited 0n said leather.

8. In a leather dyeing machine, a framework; a continuous convex arcuate metal bed plate fixedly secured to said framework and extending lengthwise thereof; a rotatable drum at each end of said bed plate; an endless bolster on said drums adapted to support a leather on the upper face thereof, said bolster resting on said bed plate; means for continuously depositing a dye only on the center oi said leather; and a tank above said bolster adapted to discharge water on the completely dyed leather and Wash olf the surplus dye into troughs on the opposite sides of said bed plate and below the upper face thereof.

9. In a leather dyeing machine, a framework, a continuous convex arcuate metal bed plate xedly secured to said framework and extending lengthwise thereof; a rotatable drum at each end 0f said bed plate; an endless bolster on said drums with its upper surface in upwardly and transversely convex conguration and adapted to support a leather on the upper face thereof, said bolster resting on and slidable lengthwise of said bed plate; means for continuously depositing a dye only on the center of said leather; and rollers on said framework for supporting the under portion of said bolster.

10. In a leather dyeing machine as set forth in claim l in which the dye is delivered from a plurality of alined tanks supported on said framework; and means whereby the dye-containing tanks may be adjusted relatively to each other lengthwise of the bed plate, thereby providing a plurality of longitudinally spaced and unimpeded stations whereby manual operations upon the leather on the bolster may be performed after the delivery of dye thereon from each tank.

ll. An apparatus for dyeing leather comprising, in combination, a continuous belt, means forv moving said belt longitudinally, means for supporting said belt with its upper surface in upwardly and transversely convex configuration, means for continuously discharging liquid upon said belt in a plurality of longitudinally spaced regions, there being, intermediate said regions, unimpeded stations for manual operation upon material on said belt, and drainage troughs extending longitudinally along the sides of said belt to receive excess liquid discharged thereupon.

l2. An apparatus for dyeing leather comprising, in combination, an elongated table having a transversely convex upper surface, a continuous belt conforming in transverse configuration to the upper surface of said table, means for moving said belt longitudinally over said table, means for continuously discharging liquid upon said belt in a plurality of longitudinally spaced regions, there being, intermediate said regions, unimpeded stations for manual operation upon material on said belt, and drainage troughs extending longitudinally along the sides of said table and belt to receive excess liquid discharged thereupon.

13. An apparatus for dyeing leather comprising, in combination, a continuous belt, means for moving said belt longitudinally, means for supporting said belt with its upper surface in upwardly and transversely convex configuration, a plurality of normally xed devices for continuously discharging liquid upon said belt, said devices being longitudinally spaced, and there being therebetween unimpeded stations for manual operation upon material on said belt, means for supporting said devices permitting adjustment of their relative longitudinal positions to vary the lengths and locations of said stations, and drainage troughs extending longitudinally along the sides .of said belt to receive excess liquid discharged thereupon.

MICHAEL F. FLYNN. 

